Why Can't There Be Another Way

Chapter 11

Horus

Months have passed since the Seventy-fourth annual Hunger Games. All my poetry has lost its light. Just picking up a pen and paper is hard for me. Luckily for me, most of the focus is on Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. All I have to do is send a few depressive poems to the Capitol to satisfy the crowd there. But with the star-crossed lovers of District 12 being the talk of the town, I doubt anyone cares. I feel glad to have been upstaged. Ever since coming back from the arena, my life has crumbled.

I'm not overtly angry at the District 12 victors. They did what they had to do to survive. In some way, I'm glad that both of them got out together instead of Athena and me. At least Katniss and Peeta won't be sold to the Capitol. They've got each other.

It's late in winter when there's a mandatory viewing from the Capitol. It looks like the District 12 victors will be getting their wedding soon. After the pictures of Katniss in her wedding dress, Caesar Flickerman reminds us to stay tuned for the reading of the Quarter Quell. This gets me interested. They were always my favorite topic at the Academy, especially the Second Quarter Quell. It was so interesting, seeing such a beautiful but deadly arena. In addition, there were double the tributes. I can see why Haymitch Abernathy is drunk most of the time. I too would have nightmares of that place.

I wait with anticipation for the reading of the Quarter Quell. I wonder what this year's theme will be. There are o so many options. The president begins by reading off about the Dark Days before the little boy in white steps forward. Snow takes out an aged piece of paper.

"On the Seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

I feel like I'm spectating this in slow motion. The words are barely comprehensible in the sudden ring in my ears. The ringing becomes louder. And louder. And louder. I feel like I'm suffocating in the house. Existing pool of victors. I'm out the door when I hear my family calling me back inside.

I run until I stop feeling anything. Until I can only feel the burning pain in my lungs as I try to grasp the cool winter air. This cannot be. If I wasn't a victor, I'd be excited at the prospect of going back in. But I'll be faced with trained killers. Who will be there? Definitely Katniss Everdeen and Johanna Mason. They're the only female tributes of their districts. Both are young and very good at their weapons. Axe and bow. Both long ranged weapons. Plus Katniss is pretty agile in the trees. Not to mention, the victors from the other Career districts. If I'm terrified of Katniss and Johanna, those victors from Districts 1 and 4 are way worse. To top it all off, there's District 3 with their technology.  And then there are the victors from my District. I force myself to calm down. There are a dozen or so victors in District 2. The chances of me getting reaped are low. And who knows, maybe one of the other victors would want to go back in the arena. Why would they want to? Who knows.

I make my way back to the house, realizing that I wouldn't mind that much if I went back in the arena. My sister and best friend died there. It's only fitting I die in it too to make everything complete. And I couldn't put it past the Capitol if they reap Bellona the next year and she dies in the arena too. 

I'm barely back in the house when Bellona wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. "It won't be you. It can't be you."

I pat her head reassuringly. I don't bother saying it won't be me though. That's just wistful thinking.

During the months preceding the reaping, I make sure to gather my strength back. I go back to the Academy to prepare myself, just in case. I'm not the only one. Plenty of victors who have won years ago are training with the kids. Some are pretty rusty. They haven't held a weapon in a long time. I should be glad that I won only two years ago.

We make polite conversation as we train. Most of them know each other pretty well, so it would be like killing a friend. I've only met them once, except the mentors of my allies. And that's when a sudden thought shoots through me. Cashmere and Gloss. There's a chance they'll go into the arena together. I feel myself lowering my spear. I know all too well the pain it is to go into the arena with my sister. I pray to the gods my mother named Athena, Bellona and me after that Cashmere and Gloss won't have to suffer like that.

As the reaping approaches, people in the Capitol start betting on who will be the victor of the victors. Even people in 2 are starting to bet. Will it be one of our own victors, or someone from a different District. Many of the victors are a lot older and wasted. That should be a good thing. It's the younger ones that are deadly. I know if Athena was in my situation, she'd start plotting excitedly. She did love a good challenge.

So I do just that. I begin to go over each Hunger Games. There are video tapes in the Academy. I've watched these probably a hundred times. I can hear the trainers press me as they ask how did they win? What strategy did they use? My response is automatic with all the times I've watched these Games.

The only one I truly study is the Seventy-fourth Games. Obviously Katniss and Peeta, if it is Peeta who is getting reaped, will continue their star-crossed lovers act. Katniss will have her bow while Peeta can do pretty well with a knife. There's a high chance the Capitol will bet on them too. I can already hear them. Such unfortunate luck it is for dear Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. And with her wedding so close. It really is malfortune.

Finally, it's the day of the reaping. It's unbearably hot today. Since I have an unlimited supply of fancy attire, I take my time getting myself ready for the Capitol. I wonder who will be the 'mentors'. There's no need for all of us to go, but someone has to control the flow of sponsors. In the meantime, the rest of us will have to watch our friends and mentors die.

I'm sure it's not just the Districts who are angry. The Capitol must feel some sort of anger to this too, even if this will bring them peak entertainment. Many will lose their favorites. My only hope is that the popular victors go in, so that there will be fury in the Capitol. I know how much they'd hate seeing someone like Finnick Odair die. Not to throw shade at Finnick. I like him, and I don't want him to go back in. But he is the most popular among the Capitol. Maybe he'll be able to stop the Games in some way.

We're placed in a closed off section as the rest of the District watches. Yvelise starts by going to the bowl of female tributes. Enobaria is reaped. No one volunteers. Enobaria is unfazed, however, and stands up on stage proudly. I wonder how she truly feels about this though. In her Games, she had to rip the throat of the final tribute in a last ditch effort. Does she see some kind of flashback. At least she has her gold encrusted fangs. I doubt the Capitol will surgically remove them before the Games start.

Finally, it's the boys' turn to be reaped. Yvelise grabs a piece of paper, and I feel like I went back in time as she calls out my name.